Welcome again to World Transient, the place we’re Iran’s message to the United States and Israel, Europe’s safety threats, and obstacles to assist coming into Gaza.
‘A Slap to America’s Face’
Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued his first public assertion on Thursday following Tehran and Israel ending their 12-day battle. In a prerecorded message that aired on Iranian state tv, Khamenei downplayed the USA’ current strikes on key Iranian nuclear services, declared victory over Iran’s adversaries, and warned in opposition to additional U.S. and Israeli assaults.
Welcome again to World Transient, the place we’re Iran’s message to the United States and Israel, Europe’s safety threats, and obstacles to assist coming into Gaza.
‘A Slap to America’s Face’
Iranian Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued his first public assertion on Thursday following Tehran and Israel ending their 12-day battle. In a prerecorded message that aired on Iranian state tv, Khamenei downplayed the USA’ current strikes on key Iranian nuclear services, declared victory over Iran’s adversaries, and warned in opposition to additional U.S. and Israeli assaults.
Tehran “delivered a slap to America’s face” by attacking a U.S. air base in Qatar, Khamenei stated, including that ought to any future aggression happen, “the enemy will certainly pay a heavy value.”
U.S. President Donald Trump introduced on Saturday that Washington “utterly and completely obliterated” Iran’s key nuclear services throughout a weekend assault. Nevertheless, Khamenei on Thursday disputed this declare, saying the U.S. chief “exaggerated” the operation’s success. “They might not obtain something vital,” Khamenei added, although he didn’t specify the present standing of Tehran’s uranium enrichment capabilities, which he maintains are very important for civilian functions.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe stated on Wednesday that the strikes “severely broken” Iran’s nuclear program, and Worldwide Atomic Power Company (IAEA) director Rafael Grossi reiterated that the injury executed by U.S. and Israeli strikes was “very, very, very appreciable,” although he stipulated to French broadcaster RFI that utilizing the phrase “‘annihilated’ is an excessive amount of.”
Khamenei on Thursday additionally heralded the success of Iran’s retaliatory strike on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday. Trump had beforehand characterised the assault as restricted, saying no casualties occurred. Nevertheless, the Iranian chief stated the operation was vital, because it confirmed that Tehran “has entry to essential U.S. facilities within the area and may act in opposition to them each time it deems vital.” Al Udeid Air Base is the biggest U.S. navy set up within the Center East.
Khamenei’s phrases on Thursday have been defiant, however some observers famous that the 86-year-old chief’s tone appeared drained and somber. Each Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu advised all through the battle that Khamenei was not immune from their strikes, with Trump posting on Reality Social final week: “We all know precisely the place the so-called ‘Supreme Chief’ is hiding. He’s a simple goal, however is protected there—We aren’t going to take him out (kill!), not less than not for now.”
Their threats pressured Khamenei into hiding for almost two weeks, with Iranian officers revealing that at one level, he was sheltering in a bunker. The 12-day tit-for-tat killed not less than 28 folks in Israel and greater than 600 folks in Iran, in response to every nation’s authorities, respectively.
Trump on Wednesday stated the USA will maintain nuclear talks with Iranian officers subsequent week, although Khamenei has not publicly acknowledged this, and White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday that no assembly has been scheduled as of now. Within the meantime, Iran’s Guardian Council authorised a parliamentary invoice on Thursday ordering the nation to droop cooperation with the IAEA “till the safety of [Iran’s] nuclear services is ensured.”
The IAEA didn’t “even superficially” condemn Israeli and U.S. assaults on its services, Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stated on Wednesday, alleging that the company additionally shared data on its nuclear websites with Israel.
Because the standing of Iran’s nuclear program slowly unfolds, Tehran is reportedly stepping up its inner safety crackdown with mass arrests, executions, and navy deployments. Officers instructed Reuters that Iran is targeted on the specter of doable unrest, significantly in Kurdish areas.
At this time’s Most Learn
What We’re Following
Safety considerations. European Union leaders convened in Brussels on Thursday to debate how greatest to deal with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, after a two-day NATO summit in The Hague positioned Kyiv’s membership bid largely on the again burner. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was sidelined from the principle NATO assembly, however he video-conferenced in for the Brussels gathering.
Thursday’s agenda targeted on approving Europe’s 18th spherical of sanctions in opposition to Moscow in addition to deciding whether or not to keep up a value cap on Russian oil, which some argue may elevate international power costs. The European Council additionally deliberate to deal with NATO’s current resolution to extend the minimal protection spending requirement to five p.c of a nation’s GDP, Moldova’s bid to hitch the European Union, and instability within the Center East.
Protection and safety stay a high concern for leaders throughout the area. On Wednesday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer introduced that the UK plans to buy 12 U.S.-made F-35A fighter jets able to carrying nuclear weapons. London referred to as it “the largest strengthening of the U.Ok.’s nuclear posture in a technology.” Solely three NATO nations—the UK, the USA, and France—are nuclear powers.
Support blocks for Gaza. Israel has suspended assist deliveries into Gaza for the subsequent two days, Israeli officers instructed Reuters on Thursday, citing efforts to forestall Hamas from seizing humanitarian provides. A United Nations supply confirmed the dearth of deliveries into northern Gaza to Reuters, however Israeli authorities spokesperson David Mencer maintains that assist is coming into the territory from the south.
On Wednesday, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett posted a video on X displaying dozens of masked males, a few of whom carried rifles, driving assist vans. He claimed that the people have been Hamas members attempting to steal meals, however native officers argue that the boys have been simply guarding the provides. Netanyahu and Protection Minister Israel Katz appeared to capitalize on the footage, ordering Israel’s navy late Wednesday to formulate a plan on forestall Hamas from taking civilian assist.
A lot of Gaza’s inhabitants stays susceptible to starvation, and Israeli strikes proceed to batter the territory. However Trump claimed on Wednesday that U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear websites helped spur cease-fire negotiations for the conflict in Gaza. “I believe nice progress is being made on Gaza … due to this assault that we made,” Trump instructed reporters. “I believe we’re going to have some superb information.”
Burial web site. A South African courtroom briefly blocked the personal burial of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu in South Africa on Wednesday, ruling that the late chief can’t be buried till the case over the place his closing resting place ought to be concludes. The last-minute ruling occurred the identical day that Lungu’s relations have been set to carry his funeral.
The Zambian authorities desires Lungu to have a state funeral, with present Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema presiding over it. Such a follow would “be sure that all Zambian residents will pay their respects in a dignified and applicable method,” Zambian Lawyer Common Mulilo Kabesha stated, including that state pursuits take precedence over private wishes and that each one different Zambian presidents have been buried at a chosen web site within the capital metropolis of Lusaka.
Nevertheless, Lungu’s household has refused this demand on account of a long-running political feud with the present chief, including that they are not looking for Hichilema to attend. Already, Lungu’s funeral has been canceled twice over this disagreement. Lungu died on June 5 at age 68 of an undisclosed sickness.
Odds and Ends
Father Zareh Ashuryan, a spokesperson for the top of the Armenian Church, accused Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Monday of being circumcised and implying that he was subsequently not a Christian—a scathing accusation in a rustic the place round 94 p.c of the inhabitants identifies as Armenian Orthodox. He went on to match Pashinyan to Judas, Jesus’s apostle who’s greatest identified for betraying him. In response, Pashinyan publicly supplied to indicate church officers his penis to show his devoutness and later reiterated his accusation that Karekin II, the top of the Armenian Church, had damaged his celibacy, which is forbidden for an individual in that position.
